In bed she lay utterly ecstatic encircled in his arms. She thought about where she was, and the man who was sleeping next to her. She still felt like she was living in a dream, that she would wake up any moment and it would all be gone. Her heart started to race, so she reached over and touched him to make sure he was really there. He moaned softly.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, I was just making sure you are still here,” she said. He pulled her closer. She felt the warmth of his body and closed her eyes. For a moment, Annabel’s face flashed in front of her and she shivered knowing that one of these days she would have to face her nightmare again. But for now she was safe and happy. She pulled herself closer to Sebastian and drifted off to sleep.
Early in the morning she woke up and stretched back, feeling warm and comfortable. She sighed lazily, and blinking a couple of times, she decided to crawl out of bed and walk to the back window. She drew back the heavy curtains and held her breath as her eyes took in all the beauty the world was offering, for free. The water looked magnificent under the bright sunlight. The tide was out, and in the morning light, small sailboats created a remarkable picture that no painter’s hand could have captured.
Arielle was absolutely in love with the house. I don’t remember ever having had this kind of feeling standing in front of any window at any place I have ever visited, she thought. She looked at her angel, still fast asleep, and went to the kitchen to make coffee. Beams of morning sunlight impaled the windows of the kitchen, brightening the room. Soon the house was filled with a wonderful rich aroma from the brew. Taking a cup of coffee she went out the back door. The grass was still wet with the morning dew. Arielle let her toes feel the moisture and beamed with delight.
The day was gorgeous. It was warm. She could feel the sun heat her skin. This had been an extraordinary year as far as the weather was concerned. The usual weather for December in Brighton was drab and wet but not this year. The days had been a bit cool but overall too warm for this time of year. She was not complaining at all, she was just taking in the weather change with extreme pleasure. She was wearing a skimpy camisole that she had purchased the day before. It was a bit cool, but she didn’t mind. She held the cup with both hands and closed her eyes, letting her senses become aware of the earth beneath her feet, and her body become infused with the unexpected warmth of the sun. What a wonderful feeling.
I should call Mum and Daddy, she thought. I would love for them to see the house before they leave for Africa. She thought of all that she had to look forward to, and she was filled with extreme happiness. Sebastian would be with her every day. He would share her bed every night. She laughed aloud with pleasure and threw her head back, letting the sun caress her face.
Opening her eyes, she took a sip of coffee and turned to walk back inside. Sebastian was standing at the family room window watching her. Her Greek god, with a wide smile on his sensuous lips. She smiled back at him and waved. He was in front of her before she could even cross the threshold.
“Good morning! I do wish you would not leave the bed without waking me up. Your face is the first thing I want to see every morning, remember our agreement?”
“I just thought you might want to sleep in. You looked so peaceful and so beautiful, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
He reached for her and she fell into his arms, trying not to spill her coffee. He put his finger under her chin, pulled her head up to his level, and softly pressed his lips on hers.
“You look so beautiful. I really like this little camisole, did you just get it?”
“Yes, just for you,” she smiled, reaching for his lips one more time.
“How am I ever going to get anything done at school if I feel this way all the time?” she asked. “All I want to do is be with you. That’s just not normal.”
“Why would you ever think that it’s not normal? I’m sure that anyone who shares the kind of love that you and I share has the exact same feeling.”
She shook her head and took another sip from her coffee.
“Would you like some coffee?” she asked. He declined and poured himself a glass of salve. They sat in front of the huge picture window, enjoying the ocean view.
For a long time, they sat quietly and didn’t say a word. Finally, Arielle announced that she needed to call her parents, and got up to get her phone.
“Hello, Mum, how are you? And how is Daddy?”
Naturally, Arielle’s mother wanted to know all about how she liked the house. Arielle happily chatted on for about thirty minutes without stopping, gushing about the house, about Sebastian, and about how happy she was, while her mother just listened. Finally, she said, “Do you want to come and see the house?”
“We’ve been there, darling. Sebastian invited us to come over while you were out shopping with your friends. It’s absolutely wonderful. Sebastian was a perfect host. He and your father spent a lot of time talking about business and about you.”
Surprised, Arielle finished her call. Putting down the phone, she looked at Sebastian. “Did you do that for me?” she asked. “Invite my parents over, I mean?”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Arielle. I love you, and the way you feel affects me directly.”
She sat on his lap, sighed, and they held each other in complete contentment. She leaned close and breathed in his intoxicating scent. She closed her eyes and grinned, realizing the intense heat that his proximity was creating. Even with her eyes closed she could feel his penetrating gaze. Opening her eyes, her gaze met that warm green emerald ocean that made her heart thud at such an exhilarating speed.
“What?” she asked, flushed.
“I know you are lost in your thoughts, I can feel it,” he whispered. “What were you thinking? What’s bothering you?”
“Noth…nothing…” she stammered.
Sebastian looked at her, amused. “Well, it has to be something. So, out with it.”
“I was thinking about how much I love you,” she replied, and leaning in she pressed her lips on his passionately.
“That’s a good thing,” he commented, letting out a soft sigh.
After a short pause, she added, “Sebastian? I do have one small question.”
“I knew that something was smoldering in that pretty head of yours,” he said, chuckling. She laughed too, and continued.
“If immortals can’t have children, how come the Dillons had a child?”
At first the question caught him by surprise, then quickly another thought darted through his mind, making him shiver lightly. He looked directly into her eyes and held her gaze for a long moment.
Arielle could see his anxiety. “What is it?” she asked, eyes wide open.
He pursed his lips and his voice came out all quivery. “Are you asking because I told you that I can’t give you any children?” he asked, his voice low. “Because if you are, I’m sorry, but it is the absolute truth.” He pursed his lips anxiously and added, “I do feel terrible about that.”
“Sebastian, please, baby, I love you. I don’t care about that, I was just curious,” she said, gently cupping his face in her hands and kissing him. “Forget it,” she added, “we don’t have to talk about it.”
“No…no…” his voice trailed off. “I think you have a valid question.”
Arielle moved her legs and curled into his lap, laying her head on his chest. Sebastian bent down and took her mouth in a loving kiss. His voice came out soft and slow, “Immortals can’t produce children,” he said.
“Well, then how can Loren be the daughter of an immortal couple?”
Sebastian took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and then told the Dillon’s story.
“Olivia and Christian Dillon were married in 1425. One early morning, the servants found a small bundle left at their doorstep. To their surprise it was a little baby girl. The Dillons fell in love with her and decided to raise her as their own. Loren grew up to become a true beauty and a wonderful daughter who loved her
parents. She had no clue about their immortality, and the Dillons didn’t think they needed to tell her anything about it until it was absolutely necessary.
“It was on Loren’s nineteenth birthday that Christian took his daughter riding on her new horse. A few miles away from the house they ran into a group of drunken riders that wanted to have some fun with Loren. Christian and Loren tried to dismiss them politely, but things seemed to get worse by the minute. Something about the three men didn’t seem right, but Christian thought that as an immortal he would not have any trouble protecting his daughter. But he became alarmed when he saw the speed with which they dismounted their horses and how quickly they were able to pull Loren off her horse. This let him know they were dealing with immortals. Christian jumped off his horse and fought them hard, but he lost the fight. He was shot in the chest and collapsed at his daughter’s feet. The assailants didn’t bother with Christian any further. They turned their attention to Loren. In the time it took for Christian to heal and regain his faculties, they had assaulted Loren and left her bruised and traumatized young body sprawled on the ground half naked, clinging to life by a mere thread.”
Arielle let out a soft cry and covered her mouth with her hand. Sebastian tightened his arms around her and pressed a kiss on her temple.
“What happened then?” she asked anxiously.
“Christian attended to his daughter’s injuries and when it became obvious that she wasn’t going to make it, he had one choice and one choice alone. He didn’t hesitate. Unwilling to let her die, he gave her immortality. She had become his whole world. And that’s the whole story, in a short version.”
He looked down at her, and her lips trembled. She had been captivated by the story. There was moisture in her eyes and she gulped down a sigh. Sebastian tilted her head up and set his lips on her forehead, kissing her gently. He then moved his lips over her eyes, and with his tongue he tasted the salt in her tears. He moaned tenderly. They stayed quiet holding each other.
Finally, Arielle broke the silence. “Are you saying that Loren and her family have been around for over six hundred years?”
“Yes.”
“Wow,” she said, and shifted again on his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder trying to absorb all that information.
“Does it make you sad that I can’t give you children?” he asked, cupping her chin with his hand and turning her face toward him.
“No…no…not really…” She shook her head. “I don’t care about that.” She kissed him tenderly, and he replied with a soft moan. “Sebastian, all I want is you,” she murmured.
“Thank God for that,” he replied, squeezing her softly.
“It was just a question out of curiosity.”
“And a very good one,” he said. How he wished that he were human so that he could give her beautiful children—girls—who would look just like her. He smiled at the thought. “I should have explained that when you met Loren. I have been fortunate to be part of their family for more than five hundred years now. I love them dearly.” His arms held Arielle tightly against him and she didn’t ever think of moving, not even an inch away, from that warm embrace.
When it was time to get ready for the ball, Arielle let Sebastian get ready first while she made up the bed. When he walked out of his walk-in closet, he took her breath away. He looked stunning. He wore a black suit with a white shirt and a burgundy tie. His hair looked amazing, and his perfect face was magical. She walked up to him, touched his lips softly with hers, and was startled as he grabbed her, pulled her tight against his body and kissed her hungrily.
“I don’t want to mess you up, you look perfect,” she said, gasping for air as she tried to push him away.
“I don’t care about being messed up by you,” he grinned. “I want you right here, close to me.”
“Sebastian, I need to get ready, let go.” She pushed against his chest softly and he let her go, chuckling.
As she jumped into the shower, he called out, “Do you want me to come in there and help you?”
“No, don’t you dare,” she yelled back, knowing what he was capable of.
When she was finished with her shower, she fixed her hair and makeup, applying a soft pink lipstick that accentuated her lips. The blue sash of her dress matched the color of her eyes perfectly. She took a last look in the mirror, pleased with the beautiful girl that she saw looking back at her. She so wanted Sebastian to be proud of her. This night was very important to her, and it was the night she would meet his mother.
As she stepped into the living room he turned to look at her. The look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. He let out a long, low whistle, and his mouth dropped open.
“Gosh, Arielle, how do you do that?” he exclaimed. “How can you surprise me every time I turn around? You are absolutely dazzling. I’m going to have to keep you by my side all night long. I don’t trust anyone there. You have to understand that immortals are always out there, searching for their next victim. Most of them only want a night of pleasure, not a lifetime partner. You will get hit on many times tonight. Do you understand? You are such a sight. You will not be ignored by any male in the room, especially being a human—that is like the icing on the cake.”
“Don’t worry, Sebastian,” she said. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
He walked up to her releasing his dazzling power, and she lost control. Her heart was in her throat and her lips parted in a moan. She didn’t seem to be able to draw any air into her lungs. She lost her balance, and he had to reach out and hold her steady while he laughed with pleasure. She forced herself to look away from his eyes and begged him as she tried to catch her breath, “Please, don’t do that to me,” she said. “Let me look into your beautiful eyes for once without dazzling me. I know you can do that. It’s a choice you make when you look into people’s eyes, isn’t it?”
“Yes, you are right it’s a choice. But I love dazzling you. I love the way you look when you are disoriented and trying to catch your breath. You’re totally irresistible.”
He pulled her closer and put his finger gently on her lips. “I love this color on you,” he said. “But it prevents me from kissing you, and I don’t like that. I will have to mess it up at one point or another.”
“Try not to do that. I’m sure you can hold off for a little while,” she said, giggling.
“Oh, I can’t promise anything like that. Touching you and kissing you is part of what I need to sustain me,” he said and laughed again with pure pleasure.
Chapter 20
IT WAS DARK WHEN THEY LEFT THE HOUSE, and the streets were poorly lit, with a few light posts set every two hundred feet or so apart. But it was New Year’s Eve and the traffic was thick with partygoers. The feeling of celebration in the air made Arielle happy. Sebastian reached over and took her hand. He pressed it softly, making her turn to look at him. His eyes were shining with love and affection.
“I love you,” he said in a firm voice. “And I want you to save all the dances for me. I’m a very jealous man, I’m warning you,” he added teasingly, squeezing her hand and letting a soft chuckle escape him. Arielle sent him a sweltering look, and “humphed” playfully.
As they entered the gates of the Dillon estate, Arielle felt they had crossed a time zone. There were a million bright lights illuminating both the grounds and the estate, changing it from night to day. The house was a colossal piece of architecture and stood like a magnificent testament of greatness on the back section of the property. Many of the huge windows gave a clear view of the interior. There were chandeliers everywhere, making the house seem even brighter. Through them, Arielle could see people moving about with happy looks on their faces. It was definitely an atmosphere of exuberance.
They pulled up to a round driveway where two valets were waiting to help them out of their car. Sebastian put his hand around Arielle’s waist and gently led her toward the grand entrance. Again, she had a feeling that she was stepping back in time. She remember
ed having the same feeling when she had visited Sebastian’s home in St. Jean de Luz.
There were beautiful paintings hanging everywhere and amazing statues she was sure had been created by famous sculptors. The rooms were huge and furnished with exquisite taste. Richly detailed tapestries hung from the long walls of the foyer, giving it a Gothic look. Arielle was mesmerized. She loved looking at the house and every detail in it. Sebastian pulled her close and pressed his lips softly on hers.
“You didn’t even make it for a short time,” she teased. “Did you mess up my lipstick?”
“No, it still looks great, but I want to know where you are drifting off to…”
“This house is amazing!”
“You are amazing, you look absolutely beautiful, and very sexy. I want you to stay very close to me tonight,” he whispered softly in her ear.
“Where am I going to go?”
“Trust me, I know what I am talking about. You’ll be a very challenging game for the men attending this ball.”
As soon as they stepped into the ballroom they noticed a lot of people turning and staring at them. Many of the guys came up to Sebastian, shook his hand and waited to be introduced to Arielle. Girls walked up and hugged him warmly, paying little attention to her.
They had been standing there for a few minutes when she heard the delightful voice of Loren calling her name. “Arielle, I’m so happy you came!” she cried out, running towards her and giving her a huge hug.
“Let me see the ring again,” she exclaimed. Arielle stretched her hand out, her eyes sparkling.
“Oh, that’s so gorgeous. Let’s go show Mother.”
“Is Father attending this celebration?” Sebastian asked.
“No, you know Dad, he doesn’t like any kind of celebration.”
“What do you mean?” Arielle asked. “Not even the New Year’s Eve celebrations?”
“No, not even those,” Sebastian answered this time. “A new year is of no importance to an immortal. It’s just another day in the very long journey of eternity,” he added sadly. Arielle squeezed his hand gently.
Arielle Immortal Seduction (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 2) Page 21
